§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will seek greater protection for big leaf mahogany under CITES. [55297]
§ Mr. MeacherThe Government intend to explore with other member states the possibility of listing big leaf mahogany on Annex B of Council Regulation 338–97. Such a listing would require member states to be satisfied that the trade would not be detrimental to the conservation of the species before the timber could be imported into the EU.
§ Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what preparations her Department is making for the CITES 12 meeting of the Conference of the Parties. [55298]
§ Mr. MeacherAll proposals for discussion at the Conference of Parties have to be with the CITES Secretariat by 6 June. A proposal to list the basking shark on Appendix II has been prepared and will be submitted shortly. Officials have also contributed to the preparation of a draft resolution on trade in biological samples. These and proposals by other EU member states will be discussed at a meeting on 16 May. A further meeting to agree a common position on all CITES proposals will be held at the end of July. Views on these proposals will be sought from NGOs and other interested parties in the run up to this later meeting.